by Jillian Dodd
"I had it brought up here, so we could drive it."
He narrows his eyes at me, trying to figure out what's going on, then hops in the car.
It's a beautiful drive. Hilly. Lush. Green.
Aiden lowers the convertible top even though it's chilly. "I love the way it smells so clean just after a good rain," he says.
I make a left turn, winding up the rock path.
"Wow," Aiden says, admiring the scenery. "It's gorgeous up here. Are we going to get in trouble for trespassing? There were warning signs back there."
"I don't think so," I say, parking at the top of the hill and grabbing a bag out of the car.
I take his hand and lead him toward the spot with the best view.
"You can see the ocean from here!" he says. "And, look, the sun is starting to set."
I look out at the sky and wonder why I was so worried. I couldn't have timed it more perfectly.
"What do you think of it up here?"
"It's beautiful," he says, turning around and taking it in from all directions. The rows of grapes. The hilly land. The view of the ocean.
I hand him a piece of paper.
"A deed?"
"Yes, this, pretty much as far as your eyes can see, is yours."
"What do you mean, mine?"
"Remember how upset I was when that girl from the club was killed? And I went back a few nights later and danced?"
"Yeah."
"Things were heating up with Vincent, and I was afraid that . . . well, that I wouldn't survive. I bought this land for two reasons. If something happened to me, I wanted to be cremated and have my ashes spread here. Then the land was going to you," I say, tears prickling my eyes. "So you would have something to remember me by. It's a working vineyard. Twelve-hundred acres. Already producing high quality grapes. I left you this deed and a letter in my will. Sam was supposed to bring you up here and give it to you. I decided I'd give you the letter myself. Since I survived and all, and because I want you to know . . . well, I just want you to know."
I hand him the letter and watch as he reads it, tears filling his eyes.
He's crying, hugging me, and shaking his head.
"We're building our love mansion right here," he says determinedly. "In this very spot."
I smile at him and take the jar out of the bag. "I was hoping you'd say that. Cuz I brought the dirt."
(Pan shot of couple kissing and the land.)
Aiden puts his hand on my knee and whispers to me as The End rolls across the movie screen in front of us. "Hard to believe your journals were turned into three movies."
"It's even harder to believe it's been over ten years since we met. I'm so glad we decided to show all three movies back to back for this premiere. It was so fun to see the growth of the characters."
"You mean our growth? That was the amazing story of us. How our love survived it all. We really are lucky, you know."
"I loved seeing the first movie again. It's still my favorite."
He smirks at me. "Cracks me up to hear all the stuff you thought. Especially since I was crazy about you right from the start."
"It sure didn't seem like it then. Damn Logan," I tease.
The movie we just watched was a combined Special Edition of all three films in The Keatyn Chronicles. Riley had the brilliant idea of stringing them together and saving all the credits for the end.
The audience is clapping and cheering for their favorites. Cush, Brooklyn, Dawson, and the entire Eastbrooke crew.
I think the audience feels the same way we do.
We can't believe it's over.
It feels like an era has ended. Three movies in three and half years.
All box office successes.
All produced by Riley and me. Hard to believe our working together started with a slutty video on a plane.
The biggest cheers of all, though, are saved for the actors who played Keatyn and Aiden.
I clap loudly and whistle, thrilled at how much everyone loves them together. Although, in the first movie, most viewers were torn between Cush, Brooklyn, Dawson, and Aiden, by the second one, so many were Team Aiden. It's kind of funny that many moviegoers didn't even realize the movies were based on a real couple. They've been heating up social media sites and online forums claiming that if Keatyn didn't chose Aiden they would all die. Millions wore four-leaf clover t-shirts and tweeted #ifly.
Next on the screen is a musical montage of Aiden and me; of our real life together. Though I wasn't sure about including shots of us, Riley offered me two options. He was either going to make up a happily ever after for the movie, or I was going to show that the real Keatyn and Aiden got their happily ever after. He said people would love the dirt ending, but they'd want more. They'd want to know if our love, that seemed so strong at eighteen, actually did survive the kiln. He threatened to do a scene where college-aged Keatyn and Aiden get engaged at an Eastbrooke Homecoming. Aiden put his foot down. So we settled on this.
I cried during the movie because I got so involved with the characters and what they went through, but I was able to separate the movies from my real life.
Until now.
I smile and cry happy tears as I watch bits of our life since I gave Aiden the vineyard.
Being crowned Homecoming King and Queen at Eastbrooke our senior year.
A photo of Aiden being silly and carrying me over the threshold of our senior Prom.
Aiden scooping me up into his arms and twirling me around at our Eastbrooke graduation.
A photo of us with the cast and crew who worked on A Day at the Lake.
Aiden with me and Knox after winning Best Kiss at the MTV awards for our memorable kiss in Retribution.
Aiden escorting me to the Academy Awards.
The two of us dancing cheek-to-cheek at Damian and Peyton's lavish rock star wedding.
Both our families running in a 5K fundraiser to celebrate Aiden's mom still being cancer-free.
Us standing on a balcony in Greece in the exact spot Aiden said we would during our Greek-themed weekend.
Then there are numerous travel photos of us. We started a trend with the hashtag #SunsetSelfies and are still working toward a million sunsets together.
Aiden starts to say something as the song ends and the last photo fades away, but Riley leans forward from the seat behind us. "Keep watching. I added something to the end."
What flashes on the screen next is a cute photo of me and B from our summer of waves. We're on a beach in Spain, both of us making hearts with our hands as the sun rises.
But it's the video of him surfing in the final heat of his last tournament that causes my heart to ache. It was the most amazing I'd ever seen him surf. It was where he clinched his third world title. My whole family was there and I cried when he hoisted Gracie up on his shoulders and let her hold the huge trophy above his head.
The next photo is one that graced the cover of Sports Illustrated. It's a beautiful action shot of him from that tournament, with the words In loving memory of Brooklyn Wright, three-time world champion surfer on top of it.
I'll never forget the moment when I heard. It's been over two years, but it still feels like yesterday. I was filming in Paris. Aiden saw it on ESPN and rushed on set to tell me. Witnesses say that his dad never should have been out surfing in the storm. That the waves were too much for him. When his dad went down, B died trying to save him. Both perished that day.
People try to tell me that B died doing what he loved, but I disagree. Even now, I want to call him and say, What were you thinking? Why did you let your dad go out into waves he couldn't handle? But I can't.
His death left a void in all our hearts.
Gracie, who is sitting on the other side of me, squeezes my wrist.
I look at her and know B would have appreciated one thing. That his fate brought two people together.
Gracie has a skinny but buff arm wrapped around her shoulder. Brooklyn's nephew, Brady, and his family moved into the beach house when, at the age of
fourteen, he inherited both B and his dad's millions. He and Gracie have been together ever since. First as friends; now as more. And, although they are still young, I'm pretty sure he is her forever love. He's the yin to her yang. Completely laid-back. He adores every part of her spunky personality and bossiness. But, unlike B, when she steps out of line or goes diva on him the way I used to, he just stands there and grins at her, raising an eyebrow that lets her know she's not the boss of him. I love his quiet confidence.
And he's pretty damn good on a surfboard, too.
I grab the hand of the boy who has always been my fate. We've been together ever since I told him he was my green flash.
There's no relationship status.
We just are.
And we're happy.
And that's all that matters.
At least, it did.
Until this morning.
When a little pink line appeared on a stick.
One little pink line that's going to change both our lives.
Suddenly, I want what we keep saying we're too busy for. The fairytale wedding. The ribbons blowing in the trees. Twinkle lights to dance under.
"What'd ya think?" Riley asks.
I turn around and hug him, ignoring the blonde attached to him.
"I didn't know you were adding the dedication at the end." I smile a sad smile. "Thank you. It means a lot to me."
"He was a good friend to all of us. I miss him every day," Riley says, his eyes looking glassy.
"Baby, I need to pee," the blonde says at a completely inappropriate time.
"So, go," he says, shrugging her off.
"It meant a lot to all of us," Gracie says, throwing herself into Riley's arms.
Gracie looks so pretty tonight. Her hair is in a cute little pixie cut, a style she's been growing out since she shaved her head to play a girl dying of cancer in a role that was recently nominated for an Academy Award. She spent hours at the pediatric cancer ward immersing herself in the character. And, even now, she goes back as often as her schedule will permit. I can't tell you how many times Mom about shut down the whole movie. Watching your daughter die on screen is not easy. I can't imagine how horrible it would be in real life.
Because of both their experiences, she and Mom starting working with Aiden to add another Moon Wish label wine to raise money for families whose children are affected by the disease.
I'm so proud of her.
I'm proud of all my sisters, all but one of whom are sitting in the front row with us.
The triplets, now seventeen, are following their dreams as well. Emery isn't here because she's getting ready to grace the catwalk tonight to kick off this year's Paris Fashion Week. Her schedule is the reason why we decided to have a daytime world premiere in Paris for The Keatyn Chronicles trilogy. We're all attending the fashion show and then going to an after party. Ivery's highly anticipated sophomore album is due to release next month. Her angelic voice combined with Troy's DJ mixes have catapulted her to the top of the dance charts. And Avery designs a mass market brand of clothing called Stevens. All four girls were recently featured on the cover of Teen Vogue wearing pieces from the line.
"What'd you think of the parts Aiden and I added?" Riley asks.
"I know I fought you on them. But, you were right. The chase scene was amazing."
"It should have been. We used a lot of my real footage--digitally enhanced."
"And, more importantly," Aiden adds, "no Maseratis had to be sacrificed during the making of the film."
"I thought Aiden's point of view was perfect," Gracie says. "I cried so hard. Even knowing that you chose him, I was worried in the movie that you weren't going to. It was so poignant. How he wanted to hate B. Did he really stop and make you dance with him before you told him?"
"Yeah, he did."
"I can't believe you put him through that," Ivery agrees.
"Oh, give me a break," I say. "He and Riley totally embellished that part to pull at your heart strings. And the part where he says it was a fireworks kiss; he totally copied me."
"Girls, don't listen to her. I was a mess. My heart was nearly shattered," Aiden says dramatically.
Ivery says, "I cried so hard, too."
Aiden gives me a smirk.
Mom and Tommy join the conversation. Little Lincoln Stevens is almost eleven years old now, but he didn't come with them. Not when the movie ended up with an R rating. I tried to get Riley to cut out some of the swearing so it could be PG-13 like the first two, but he stood his creative ground, citing all the f-bombs in my later journals. And I couldn't for the life of me cut out the I fucking love you scenes. They were too special.
"I felt bad for Aiden in the movie too," Mom agrees. "I remember that morning we talked about it. I told you to call him."
"I didn't want to tell him on the phone."
"I'm glad she didn't tell me on the phone," Aiden says, finally sticking up for me. "So, Boots, I hate to break up the trip down memory lane, but we need to head out."
I glance at his watch. The ridiculously expensive one I bought him when I wasn't sure I'd see another Christmas. "We have plenty of time before the fashion show. Speaking of memory lane," I say to Riley. "I was surprised to see you added a photo with Ariela in it. Maybe you should call her sometime. See how she's doing. It'd be nice to see you with the same girl more than once. I swear, you must have a stable of blondes hidden behind your house."
"No fucking way," he replies. "I'm perfectly happy with Shelly."
I bite my lip, holding back a smile.
"What?" he asks.
"Her name is Shelby," Gracie and I say.
He rolls his eyes as everyone laughs. "Whatever. Close enough."
The actors who played Keatyn and Aiden join us. I congratulate them on another success and give them huge hugs.
I watch Riley pat Aiden on the back and discreetly say something to him.
"All right," he says, "we really have to go now."
"You and Riley looked sneaky. What's going on?"
"Nothing," he says, dragging me toward the exit.
"I heard him say something about luck."
"He just said with any luck, he'd accidentally lose Shelby somewhere between the premiere and the party so he could hang with all the models."
"Are there any models left that he hasn't already dated? Or any aspiring actresses? I wish he'd aim a little higher, age-wise. Maybe find someone who's already successful. Maybe I should set him up with--"
"Riley doesn't want strings. Ariela broke his heart when she wouldn't come to California with him after graduation."
"Did you talk to him about it? I was shocked he added that photo from the Day at the Lake cast party. They looked so in love in that picture."
"I tried to talk to him, but he just turned it around and gave me shit."
"About what?"
"Us. He said I couldn't give relationship advice until I'd put a ring on it."
"You did put a ring on it. In the gazebo. That's all we've ever needed," I say with conviction, realizing I've been silly. I don't need a piece of paper to tell us we're in love. We can have a baby and not be married. Our love is all that matters. It's all that's ever mattered.
The corners of Aiden's beautiful mouth turn down for a second. I'm about to ask him why, but am interrupted by him telling our temporary bodyguard that we're going straight to the car and not stopping for autographs.
"Cooper always lets me stop," I say, already missing him. He left a few weeks ago to go help out an old friend with something he said he couldn't really talk about.
"No autographs," he says firmly. Which is weird, because he's always so supportive.
As he drags me toward the car, I'm trying to at least wave to the fans yelling my name.
"Stop rushing me, Aiden. You're starting to piss me off."
When the limo door shuts behind us, he gives me a hard kiss, which manages to both cool down my temper and heat up my insides at the same time.
I mov
e my hands to the front of his pants, forgetting I'm mad and thinking about the hotness behind his zipper, when his phone rings.
He pulls it out of his jacket pocket, checks the display, and hands it to me. "It's Dallas. I'm sure he wants to talk to you."
"Hey, Dallas," I say.
"Riley's predicting box office success."
"He always does."
"What do you think?"
"I think I agree with him. He outdid himself on this last installment and releasing the full three-movie version was brilliant."
"Wait. Did I hear that right? Is this history in the making? Did you just admit to being wrong?"
"Yes, I said it. The alternating POVs he stuck in there that seemed so jarring in the script were seamless in the movie. You'll be busy adding up the money." Dallas is Captive Films' chief legal counsel and a partial owner. "How's RiAnne feeling? Baby five cooperating?"
"I can't tell you how many times this week she's said she needs this baby out of her. She's pouting because she couldn't come to Paris and is now craving macaroons."
"Are you getting her some?"
"Of course."
"You're a good man."
"Always have been."
"Damn straight. Tell her we'll celebrate with dinner at the beach when we get back."
"Sounds good. Tell Aiden good luck tonight."
"Okay," I say. "Bye."
But as soon as I hang up, I turn to Aiden. "Wait. Why did Dallas just tell me to wish you luck?"
He gives me a smirk. "Probably thinks I'm going to need it. You know, holding off all the models that will be hitting on me at the fashion show."
I kiss him. "You're bad."
"So are you. You never told me Brooklyn wished on the moon too. Was that part added just for the movie?"
"Nope. It's totally true."
"And you still chose me?"
"I didn't have a choice, Aiden. You've had my heart from the second I met you. I just had to make things right with him. And I had to be sure. After everything I'd been through, I didn't trust myself. But when it came down to it, B and I both knew. We were great first loves. We weren't forever loves. It happened exactly like that."
"What was your favorite part?"
"Oh, gosh. I have so many. The heartbreakingly beautiful love. The I fucking love you. The first time we said I love you. The Christmas tree."
The limo stops at the base of the Eiffel Tower.
"What are we doing here?"
"Thought we'd take in the view. It's a gorgeous evening."